With attractive cheap fares, and cheap airplane tickets in particular, Haiti was poised to build on its weather, location and tropical scenery to become a Caribbean vacation destination prior to last months earthquake.
Haiti is only a two hour plane ride from Miami and had one of the strongest tourist industries in the Caribbean in the 1950s and 60s. Unfortunately the country lost much of its appeal as its political situation worsened over time.
Their government has turned over regularly. There have been coups that have lead to repression. The lack of an effective police presence in many areas of Haiti meant that there is potential for looting, and random crime, including kidnapping, carjacking, armed robbery and assault.
The Dominican Republic, which shares the island with Haiti has been planning and investing in its tourism industry since the 1970s, with a big payoff. Almost 4 million people visited the Dominican Republic in 2008 vs. only 900,000 visitors in Haiti. Most of Haitis visitors came on cruise ships for brief stays, without spending money in resorts and restaurants.
Tourism now is responsible for almost a quarter of the Dominican Republics gross domestic product, adding up to billions of dollars annually.
Prior to the earthquake Choice Hotels had announced that it would open two hotels in Haiti and Venezuela had agreed to build a second international airport in the northern part of Haiti in Cap-Haitien, Haitis second largest city. What happens now is anyones guess.